Thill-coupling



No. 624,525. I Patented may 9, |899.

H. l..l uLlPHANT a. A. F. Moon.

THILL GDUPLING.

(Application med mu. 2, 1699.) (No Model.) l

511A/mudior/5,,l .5 my fm E? M, Grrcwmpp NTTED STATES- PATENT v OFFICE.

HOMER LOUIS OLIPI-IANT, OF CINCINNATI, AND ASBURY F. MOOD,` OF` BUENA VISTA, INDIANA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent.No. 624,525, dated May 9, 1899.

Application filed March 2, 1899. Serial No. 707,471. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, HOMER LOUIS OLI- PHANT, residing at Cincinnati,in the county of Greene, and ASBURY F. MOOD, residing at Buena Vista, in the county of Monroe, State of Indiana, citizens of the United States, have 'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill-Couplings, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to carriages and wagons, and more especially to the thill-couplings used in connection therewith; and the object of the same is to produce certain improvements on United States Patent No. 618,432, issued January 31, 1899.

To this end the invention consists in the simplification of some parts, the omission of others, and the addition of novel lubricating devices, all as hereinafter more fully described and as shown in the accompanyingl drawings, whereine- Figure lis a central longitudinal section of all the parts of this thill-coupling in operative position. Fig. 2 is a perspective detail of several parts thereof disconnected from each other. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of one oil-cup and its spring-cover.

The letter A designates the axle, which is of any approved construction and formation and forms no part of the present invention.

The letter O designates the clip, which is composed of an inverted-U-shaped strap of metall passing over the axle, and whose arms 2 and 3 extend downward on opposite sides thereof, as usual, andare threaded for the reception of nuts 4 and 5.

The letter P designates the clip-plate,which is preferably transversely grooved, as at 10, on its upper side near its rear end, for the reception of the axle A, as usual. Forward of the transverse groove 10 the body of the plate P is bifurcated, so as to form two arms 14, extending forward from a straight vertical front wall 15, and which arms are complementary of each other. inwardly-projectin g flange 16, starting from a point 17 at about the mid-length of the upper edge of the arms 14, thence extending in a curved manner around the front end of said arm, thence continuing tothe rear along the lower edge of the arm, and terminating at a Each has on its inner face an point 18 on said lower edge somewhat in rear of the point 17. The entire plate, its arms, and flanges are preferably formed in one piece of metal.

The plate P (shown in Fig. 2) is of slightly- 4 different construction, omitting the groove 10 and clip entirely; but as this device is applicable to many other uses than specifically as a thill-coupling we reserve the right to alter the construction of parts, as may be necessary. For instance, the device can be used for the pivot of the knife-headof a mowingmachine or of the shaker-arms of a threshingmachine. Hence where we speak of clipplate herein we mean one member, and where we speak of thill-iron we mean the other member, which is coupled to the first by our improved means.

The letter -B designates the block, which in the present instance is also preferably made of metal instead of rubberv or some soft or yielding material, as hitherto common in antirattlers. This block has a iiat upper face 20, a flat but rearwardly-inclined rear face 21, forming an obtuse angle .22 with the upper face, and a front face which extends vertically downward for a short distance, as at 23, and is slightly grooved, as at 24, thence makes a rearwardly-curved bearing 25, and finally extends again vertically downward, as at 27, all as best seen in Fig. 1. In front elevation thisblock is substantially plus-shaped, as best seen in Fig. 2, the head of the plus consisting of that portion comprising the vertical front face 23, the bearing 25 occupying the entire lateral width of the front face of the shank, and the lower end or remaining portion of the plus-beneath the bearing 25 comprising that portion occupied by the vertical part 27 of the front face. is of much simpler construction than that hitherto employed in the patent referred to, and yet experience has shown us that we gain equal or better advantages.

This block lThe letter W designates a wedge having a y vertical rear face 40 and an inclined front face 4l, and in the center of the upper end of this wedge is an upright hole 42, froml which leads a shallow groove 43 to and out through said rear face 40.

Instead of the spring heretofore employed' we make use of the following construction, which we find cheaper and more efficacious:

S is a screw or bolt threaded at its lower end and having at the upper end of its body a 'forWardly-projecting rigid arm 50, at whose front end is a downwardly-extending rigid teat 51, and 52 is the square or angular nut for this bolt.

H is an upright hole through the body of the plate P, just in the rear of the wall 15, which hole at its upper end G is of a size to closely receive the body of the screw, below which it is enlarged, as at 6l, forming a downwardly-facing shoulder (32 at the upper end of a chamber which contains a coiled expansive spring 63, surrounding the body of the screw, and below this chamber in turn the hole is still further enlarged and squared at 65 to receive the nut 52 to preventl its rotation and yet to permit it to have a certain vertical play.

'l designates the T-head al the rear end of an ordinary thill-iron, which head is bored longitudinally, as at 70, and 7l are two fine ducts leading from this bore obliquely upward and coming out at the upper side of said head near its ends. There are preferably two-of these ducts, although one may suffice.

In Fig. 3 is best seen our im proved lubricating device, of which there may be two to cooperate with the d uct-s just mentioned, although one might in some cases su dice. 72 is an oil cup or duct passing through the flange lo' and preferably flaring slightly toward its upper end. 73 is a plate we preferably employ, which is secured to and nsh with the .upper face of this iange and has a perforation 74 registering with the duct just mentioned. 75 is a button of spring metal, with one end thickened, as at 76, through whichpasses a screw or rivet 77, by which it is riveted to said plate, while Y the body of this `button is provided on its under side with a convex projection 78, (which may be formed by stamping, as seen in this View,) so located that when the button is turned on its pivot the resilience of its body will throw this projection into and normally close said perforation 74. In the operation of this oil-cup the button is turned aside, the

' thill-iron raised until the two ducts 7l and 72 aline, and oil is poured into the perforation 74, whence it runs down and fills the bore 70. The button is then turned back to close the perforation 74 and the normal use of the device will naturally spread thelubricant to all the rear of the thill-iron (or other member) is then passed downward `between the arm 14 of the plate P and drawn forward. The block -B is then dropped into place on the lower sides of the flanges and moved forward until its bearing rests against the rear of the T- head. The wedge WV is then broughtinto play and inserted from above with its flat rear face against the front Wall l5 and its inclined front face 4l against the inclined rear face 2l ofthe block, and this Wedge is borne downward until it pinches between the block and the rear wall of the plate. The screw S is then dropped into the hole H, the spring 63 inserted from beneath, and the nut 52 applied and screwed onto the thread as far as possible. Pressure on the lower face of the nut then compresses the spring between it and the shoulder 62` and raises the screw, so that its arm and teat 5l are entirely clear from the top of the wedge. The screw is then turned by 'hand as far as possible, and on releasing pressure beneath the nut the spring causes the screw to descend until the teat enters the hole 42 and the arm stands within the notch or groove 43 in thevwedge WV. It will be obvious that thel normal tendency of the spring is to draw the wedge downward, and such movement of the latter necessarily forces the block forward, so that its bearing 25 presses rmly against the rear of the thilliron, thus silently, constantly, and effectively producing a friotional antirattler composed entirely of metal and which not only takes up the wear of parts, but will not yield in the least when the vehicle is backed.

All the parts are of the desired sizes, proportions, and materials, butpreferably metal. It is obvious that the groove 43 might be omitted and the teat made longer or the teat omitted and the groove made deeper. be clear that the parts described in connection with the screw serve in the nature of al nut-lock to prevent the accidental loss of the nut no matter how loose on the screw. As the parts wear the screwY is evidently given an occasional revolution into its nutin the manner above described.

The removal of parts for the purpose of cleansing or for repair will be done in an obvious manner not necessary to describe; but we might suggest that in the event of excessive weara thicker wedge will eventually have to be employed.

What we claim as new is l. In a thill-coupling, the combination with a clip-plate havingvfront side arms with inj wardly-projecting flanges curved around their front ends, and a block adapted to pass between them and formed with a transverse `bearing complementing that within said anges, the plate between its arms having a vertical front Wall and the rear face of said vblock being inclined; of a wedge having a vertical rear face and an inclined front face and adapted to fit kbetween the arms and in rear of the block, a spring-actuated member moving in an upright hole in the plate, and

a rigid arm thereon pressing normally downward upon the upper end of the wed ge, as and for the purpose set forth.

It will IIO 2. In a thill-coupling, the combination with a clip-plate having front side arms with inwardly-projecting flanges curved around their front ends, and a block adapted to pass between them and `formed with a transverse bearing complementing .that within said flanges, the front of the plate and the rear of the block constituting a downwardly-tapering opening; of a Wedge tapering to fit said tapering opening, a screw moving loosely in an upright hole in the plate in the rear of the wedge, a nut on the scre'w,'a spring bearing normally downward on the nut, and an integral arm 'at the upper end of the screw engaging the wedge for depressing the same, substantially as described.

3. In a thill-coupling, the combination with a bifurcated-clip-plate whose arms have nearwardly-faeing bearings, a block therein having a complementary bearing, and a wedge Y behind thc block, said plate having an upright hole with a small upper end, a larger chamberatits center,andastilllarger squared lower end; of a coiled expansive spring within said chamber, a square nut beneath it, a'

screw threaded into the nut with its body passing through the spring and out the upper end of the hole, and connections thenceto the top of the wedge, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a thill-coupling, the combination with a bifurcated clip-plate whose arms have nearwardly-facin g bearings,.a block therein having a complementary bearing, and a wedge behind the block, said plate` having an upright hole in rear of the wedge; of a screw whose body slides in said hole and whose upper end is bent forward in an arm engaging the upper end of the wedge, a nut on said screw, and an expansive spring between the nut and a part of the plate, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a thill-coupling, the combination with a bifurcated clip-plate whose arms have nearwardly-facing bearings, a block therein having a complementary bearing, and a wedge behind the block, said plate having an upright hole in rear of the wedge; of a screw whose body slides in said hole and whose upper end is bent forward in an arm engaging an opening in the upper end of the wedge, a nut on said screw, means for preventing the turning of the nut, andan expansive spring between the nut and a part of the plate, as and for the purpose set forth. l

6. In a thill-coupling, the combination with a bifurcated clip-plate whose arms have nearwardly-facing bearings, a block thereinhav-4 ing a complementary bearing, and a wedge behind the block having a hole in its upper end and a groove shallower than the hole and leading thence to the rear face of the wedge;

of a vertically-moving spring-actuated member having an arm projecting over the block and adapted to rest in said groove and a teat at its forward end -adapted to stand in said hole, all as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a thill-coupling, a combination with a bifu rcated clip-plate whose arms have near- 4wardly-facing bearings, a block therein havblock fitting between saidv armsvand having a transverse nearing complementing that within the curved front ends, and means for pressing this block normally to the front; of a T-head on the thill-iron fitting said bearings, the head being bored longitudinally and provided with ducts extending obliquely upward from such bore, and oil-cups in said flanges adapted to register with the ducts when the shank of the T is raised, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a thill-coupling, the combination with the clip-plate bifurcated at its front end, inwardly-projectin g flanges on the side arms thereof curving around their'front'ends and extending partially to the rear `at their upper edges, a block fitting between said arms and having a transverse bearing complementing that in the front ends of the flanges, and means for pressing this block normally to the front; of a thill-iron whose head fits said bearings, an upwardly-flaring oil-cup in one of said anges having a duct leading to the bearing, a plate over the cup and having a perforation communicating therewith, and a button for closing such perforation at will,- as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a thill-coupling the combination with a clip-plate with side flanges forming front bearings, the thill-iron, and a block pressing against thelatt'er and forming the rear bearing; of an oil-cu p extendin gverticall y through one flange, a perforated plate at its upper end, a button'havin g a thickened end pivoted to said plate and a spring-body, and a projection beneath the latter adapted to close the perforation in the plate, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

HOMER LOUIS OLIPHANT. ASBURY F. MOOD. Vitnesses:

WALTER ALEXANDER, JOHN W. Moon.

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